HAMBURG, July 24, 2019
Dominic Thiem advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hamburg European Open on Wednesday. On another sunny and hot day at the Rothenbaum Tennis Centre, the top seed of the ATP 500 event defeated Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 7-5, 6-1.
Thiem, who collected his 250th Tour-level match win of his career by defeating 2016 Hamburg runner-up Pablo Cuevas in Tuesday’s opening round, broke serve for the first time in the 12th game to clinch the opening set after 69 minutes. The 25-year-old Austrian set the tone early in the second set, winning all 11 first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 36 minutes.
Too good from Thiem 💪@ThiemDomi reaches the Hamburg quarters with an impressive performance over Fucsovics 👏
🎥: @TennisTV | @hamburgopen pic.twitter.com/DJXnIZfqVj
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) July 24, 2019
“The first set was very close. I missed eight break point chances but eventually managed to break his serve and I was happy that it didn’t go into the tie-break,” Thiem said. “This was also the key moment, as I started to gain some confidence from it, and I played a very good second set.”
Thiem to face Rublev next
Thiem will next take on Andrey Rublev, who came back from a set down to outlast #NextGenATP Norwegian Casper Ruud in the opening match of the day on Centre Court. The 21-year-old Russian won 55 per cent of the total points played to prevail after just over two hours of play. Rublev will appear in his second quarterfinal of the season after Marseille. Thiem emerged victorious from both previous meetings.
“I will try to continue playing like I did in the second set today,” Thiem said about his upcoming task. “Yet, it will be a completely different match. Andrey can hit winners from almost every position on the court. My goal will be to bring him out of his comfort zone.”
Chardy wins all-French encounter
Earlier in the day, Jeremy Chardy won the second match in a row against a fellow Frenchman. After the 32-year-old Pau native upset No. 5 seed Benoit Paire in the first round, Chardy edged out Richard Gasquet by the score of 7-6(5), 7-5. The World No. 77 saved three of the four break points he faced, converting two of his own five break point chances to prevail after one hour and 55 minutes.
“It was really difficult today,” Chardy said during his on-court post-match interview. “Richard is a good player. We are good friends, having dinner together almost every night but when we step on the court it’s always a big fight. Conditions were tough today, as it’s hot and I didn’t really want to play a third set.”
Up next for Chardy will be Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia. The defending champion fought past Juan Ignacio Londero of Argentina in the final match of the day 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. The encounter lasted one hour and 48 minutes.
Zverev Brothers fall in doubles
Doubles first-round action was headlined by the Zverev Brothers. In front of packed stands on Match Court 1, Alexander and Mischa lost to German qualifiers Julian Lenz and Daniel Masur 6-4, 3-6, 9-11. Alexander Zverev ended the match with a double fault after one hour and 28 minutes.
“We didn’t capitalize on our two match points and the other two played well, unfortunately that’s the way it is. Again, Hamburg is a bit unlucky this year for me but Sascha is still in singles and let’s hope he will stay until Sunday,” said Mischa Zverev, who was forced to pull out of the singles competition.
Reigning French Open doubles champion Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies have captured their first match win since lifting their maiden Grand-Slam trophy in Paris. The No. 2 seeds from Germany needed to save one match against Roman Jebavy from the Czech Republic and Dutchman Matwe Middelkoop to prevail 7-5, 6-7(9), 12-10 after two hours and seven minutes. Krawietz and Mies will meet the South-American duo Pablo Cuevas and Nicolas Jarry in the stage of the final eight.
For tickets, please visit the tournament’s official homepage.
